The Walk to Defeat Duchenne is Defeat Duchenne Canada’s largest signature event, uniting families in over 80 cities across Canada to raise crucial funds for the Duchenne community.
One in every 5,000 boys worldwide is born with Duchenne, the most common fatal form of muscular dystrophy.
The disease is relentless. It slowly weakens the body’s muscles, deteriorating function of vital organs and ultimately – shortens their life. Although there are medical treatments that may help slow its progression, there is currently no cure.
Join us on Sunday, May 28, 2023, for the Walk to Defeat Duchenne – Canada’s largest fundraiser for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Create a team or walk solo, choose a distance and location in your community and help raise funds to ensure our children and young adults can live long and active lives. With your help, we will reach more families, provide more care, fund more research and advocate for access to the latest treatments.
The funds raised from the Walk to Defeat Duchenne support best-in-class Duchenne research, education for families affected by Duchenne, and fund advocacy initiatives on behalf of boys living with Duchenne.
The Walk is growing fast and raising more funds for the Duchenne community each year – with increases of 15% in 2020, 106% in 2021, and 6% in 2022.
Our organization is built upon a foundation of love and courage – truly the grassroots result of a family’s adoration for their son throughout – and long after –his battle with Duchenne.
In 1995, our founder, John Davidson, pushed his son, Jesse, 3,339 kilometres across Ontario in his wheelchair to raise awareness and funds for this for this relentless disease. This cross-provincial journey – Jesse’s Journey – marked the very beginning of Defeat Duchenne Canada.
Then, in 1998, John put himself and his running shoes to the ultimate test as he walked across Canada to raise $1.5 million
dollars toward the fight against Duchenne.
While our organization transformed from Jesse’s Journey to Defeat Duchenne Canada in 2022, the Davidson’s courage and commitment, which has been emulated and built upon by so many other Duchenne families, remains at the heart of all we do.
Each year, one in every 5,000 boys will be born with Duchenne.
Globally, upwards of 300,000 young men and their families struggle to deal with this life-shortening diagnosis.
There are currently no treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy approved in Canada – this has to change.
Defeat Duchenne Canada is the only national charity in Canada dedicated to ending Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
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